Roadway grinding/cutting apparatus and monitoring system

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for monitoring operation of a roadway grinding / cutting machine of the type configured to travel along a roadway while engaging and grinding the roadway with a grinding / cutting head. A first displacement sensor generates, during the travel, first distance data associated with a distance between a reference level and a location on the roadway ahead of the grinding zone. A second displacement sensor generates, during the travel, second distance data associated with a distance between the reference level and a location on the roadway behind the grinding zone. A processor captures and uses the first and second distance data to determine a depth of cut as grinding / cutting progresses.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This invention relates to vehicles equipped with abrasive saw blades for cutting concrete, stone, asphalt and other similar surfaces, and in particular, to a monitoring system mounted on these vehicles for providing in-process feedback to control operation of the saw blades, and to enable analyses of blade performance and the grinding operation.[0003]2. Background Information[0004]The present invention is described below in connection with the concrete industry by way of example only but is equally useful in cutting other hard surfaces. Moreover, the use of diamond abrasive is described by way of example only, with the understanding that as used herein, the term “diamond” or “diamond abrasive” collectively refers to nominally any type of superabrasive, including CBN (cubic boron nitride), PCD (polycrystalline diamond), and single crystal synthetic diamond or natural diamond, with or without metal cladding used to improve grain retention in the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]An aspect of the invention includes an apparatus for monitoring operation of a roadway grinding machine of the type configured to travel along a roadway while engaging and grinding the roadway with a grinding head. A first displacement sensor generates, during the travel, first distance data associated with a distance between a reference level and a location on the roadway ahead of the grinding zone. A second displacement sensor generates, during the travel, second distance data associated with a distance between the reference level and a location on the roadway behind the grinding zone. A processor captures and uses the first and second distance data to determine a depth of cut during grinding operations.

[0011]Another aspect of the invention includes an apparatus for grinding concrete roadways. The apparatus includes a ground engaging vehicle configured to travel along the roadway while supporting and driving a grinding head having a plurality of circular blades spaced co-axially along a central axis, each blade having a plurality of superabrasives circumferentially spaced thereon. The grinding head is displaceable to engage and grind the roadway at a grinding zone during the travel. Coolant means supplies coolant to the grinding zone and collects the coolant after use. The apparatus also includes a grinding monitoring system including a first displacement sensor to generate, during the travel, first distance data associated with a distance between a reference level and a location on the roadway ahead of the grinding zone. A second displacement sensor generates, during the travel, second distance data associated with a distance between the reference level and a location on the roadway behind the grinding zone. A third displacement sensor generates third distance data associated with a distance between a circumference of the blades and a predetermined position relative to the axis. A pressure sensor generates, during the travel, pressure data associated with pressure of the coolant. A temperature detector generates, during the travel, temperature data associated with the coolant at a supply location and at a collection location. A vehicle speed sensor generates, during the travel, data associated with speed of travel along the roadway. A vibration sensor generates, during the travel, vibration data associated with the vehicle. A processor captures and uses the data to determine depth of cut and blade wear during grinding. An output device is coupled to the processor, and the processor captures the data and displays on the output device, during grinding operations, at least one of the parameters selected from the group consisting of distance traveled, area of roadway ground, volume of material removed, abrasive cost per unit area of surface ground, vehicle speed, grinding head rpm, vibration, depth of cut, coolant pressure,

Problems solved by technology

The lack of quantitative process measurement and analysis may lead to problems in these superabrasive grinding operations.

Small system variations that are unknown to the operator, such as a variation in depth of cut across the length of the grinding wheel assembly axis, or insufficient cooling water supply, can lead to undesirable grinding conditions and premature failure of various components.

Other machine related problems, such as failure of the grinding head bearings, may also result in a costly shut-down of grinding operations.

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